November 3rd - 17th 2018 in the Heart of Haldimand County

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors and Partner

The River Arts Festival Committee would like to sincerely thank all our community members who help make River Arts Festival possible year after year.

We couldn't host the Festival without the support of Haldimand Art Works, our parent organization; and Flyers Bakery and Cafe, our cultural headquarters.

This year you will see all of downtown Dunnville decorated in celebration of local arts and cultura, including new light banners generously sponsored by Dunnville BIA.

Thanks to the support of Haldimand County and Southwest Coast Ontario Tourism our 2018 marketing campaign is full of vibrancy. With their support, we've been able to invest in tourism marketing to bring more dollars to our local economy, and enhance our brand with a new look, and a fresh website.

We are ever so grateful for the support from Canadian Heritage, and RBC Royal Bank's Emerging Artist Fund, which allows us to pay all our local, emerging artists and performers (including our youth performers) for their time and talent.

Thank you to our media partners The Haldimand Press, LIVE Small Town Magazine, The SOUND STC, and 92.9 The Grand for helping get the word out about the festival in Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant, Six Nations, and Niagara Region.

Thank you to our local service club members from The Dunnville Rtoary Club, The Dunnville Lioness Club, The Dunnville Lions Club, The Dunnville Kinsmen Club and the Dunnville Optimist Club for all their community efforts and support of the festival over the many years.

Thank you to our food and beverage partners this year. We are so excited to feature The Udder Way Artisan Cheese, Concession Road Brewing Co., Bonnieheath Estates Winery and Lavendar Farm at our Opening Wine and Cheese Event. Thank you to our Taste of Haldimand Culinary Tour partners: The Carolinian Cafe, Debb's Cuisine on Queen, The Fisherville Hotel and Tavern, Flyers Bakery and Cafe and Julia's Bistro and Catering. We look forward to sharing what you have to offer with our guests.

Thank you to all our artists, musicians, creators, movers and shakers for making our festival so unique, and unforgettable year after year. Thank you to our patrons, our donors, and our guests at each and every event. We work year-round to make this Festival a success for everyone, and we couldn't do it without you.

Thank you for making River Arts Festival in Dunnville and Haldimand something special for everyone!

Give us Feedback

River Arts Festiva focusses on offering unique and intimate cultural events for all ages. In order to help improve our Festival year after year, we need your feedback.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts, about events you participated in in 2018 and help us make 2019 even better!

Call for Submissions of All Shapes and Sizes

Calling All Performers

The River Arts Festival is looking for talented performers of all ages. Our annual variety show will take place on Thursday November 15th, 2018 at Dunnville Secondary School. We want to see what unique and exceptional talent Haldimand county has to offer (singing, dancing, playing an instrument, skipping, hula hooping, juggling, magic etc.). If you are an individual, group, organization or business and would like to participate in our variety show email info@riverartsfestival.ca

Calling All Visual Artists

Visual artists of all mediums are invited to submit up to 3 artworks, flat and 3-dimensional work welcome.

All non-youth/student entries will be juried for acceptance for exhibition over the full length of the Festival, November 3–17, 2018.

The exhibition is part of a two week multidisciplinary celebration of the arts, offering a free opportunity to show and sell your best work to a wide audience.

There is no exhibit fee, but a 15% commission fee applies to any work sold.

Commission is paid to the hosting venue or business.

Commissions from artworks exhibited and sold in the Main Gallery will be paid back to River Arts Festival.

Work MUST be ready-to-hang (If pieces are not properly framed AND wired, they will not be exhibited.)

Frames with only small built-in hooks for hanging will NOT be accepted.

Please wire all pieces to be hanged, before submitting.
Submissions will be accepted ONLY at LVW Creative Barracks, 125 Queen Street, Dunnville and ONLY over the following periods:Fri. Oct. 26th, 10am- 5pm

Sat. Oct. 27th, 10am-4pm

Sun. Oct. 28th, 10am-1pm

Mon. Oct. 29th, 10am-5pm

Tues. Oct. 30th, 10am-5pm.

Pieces that are not juried into the show will be stored and may be picked up at the close of the Festival.

All pieces (including those that were not juried in to the show) must be picked up at Haldimand Art Works:

Sunday, November 18, 2018, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Monday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Unless prior arrangements are made, artists who do not pick up their work on November 18th & 19th are subject to a $5/day storage fee for their pieces.

River Arts Festival - A Signature Event

River Arts Festival is hosted and facilitated by Haldimand Art Works, the only non-profit arts organization in Haldimand County. We would like to give special recognition and thanks for all the organization does for our event and for our community.

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Your generous contribution will help offset the costs of Festival Events so that we can offer affordable ticket prices for everyone, and in many cases Free Events! Individuals or Businesses are eligible to receive a charitable tax receipt for their donation.